This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

If tags and functions are the building blocks of ColdFusion, variables are
the building blocks of applications. In Step 1, "The Basics," we briefly
touched on the concept of using variables. In this step, we will take a closer
look at variables, how they are created, the types of information they can contain,
and how we can begin to harness their power in our web applications.

Understanding Variables

According to http://www.whatis.com, a variable is "a quantity capable
of assuming any of a set of values." However, as mentioned in Step 1, you
can think of a variable as a container that holds information. You create variables
by giving them a name and assigning them some value. ColdFusion Server uses
server memory to store these values until either you call for them by using
the variable name or they are no longer needed, in which case they are deleted.

Two broad categories of variables are used in ColdFusion: simple variables
and complex variables. In this step, we will focus mainly on simple variables.
Complex variables will be discussed in Step 10, "Using Lists, Arrays, and
Structures."